Travis Kelce Set To Miss VMAs As Taylor Swift Shines

Travis Kelce is expected to miss the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards as his NFL commitments will keep him in Miami while his wife, Taylor Swift, is set for a major night at the ceremony.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end is scheduled to face the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Sunday, September 27. The game is taking place on the same day as the VMAs, which will be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

The scheduling clash means Kelce will be unable to attend the awards ceremony with Swift. Instead, his attention will be on the Chiefs and their matchup against the Dolphins as he prepares for another NFL game.

Swift has not publicly confirmed whether she will attend this year’s VMAs. However, the singer is scheduled to receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors during the ceremony, recognising artists whose creative work behind the camera has helped advance music-video storytelling.

The honour comes as Swift continues to play a major role in the visual direction of her music projects. Her involvement in music videos has become an important part of her creative work, making the new recognition particularly notable.

Swift is also scheduled to premiere the official music video for her new song “Patient Zero” during the ceremony. Dakota Johnson appears alongside Swift in a teaser for the upcoming video, adding further interest to the project.

The singer has also received nine nominations at this year’s VMAs. Her nominations include Video of the Year and Artist of the Year, along with categories such as Best Pop, Direction, Art Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Choreography and Visual Effects.

The nominations highlight different aspects of Swift’s recent work, covering both her music and the visual production behind her projects.

While Kelce is expected to be absent from the VMAs, he and Swift have continued to remain in the spotlight throughout the year. The couple first became romantically linked in 2023 after Kelce publicly revealed his interest in meeting the singer.

They later announced their engagement in August 2025, taking their relationship into another major chapter. Their busy careers have continued to keep both stars in the public eye.

Swift and Kelce reportedly married on July 3 this year at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Their marriage has added another significant moment to their highly publicised relationship.

The VMAs come during an especially busy period for Swift, with new music, a highly anticipated music video, several nominations and a new honour all putting the singer in the spotlight.

Kelce, meanwhile, will have to focus on his football responsibilities. With the Chiefs facing the Dolphins in Miami on the same day as the ceremony, his NFL schedule prevents him from joining Swift in Los Angeles.

Swift’s attendance at the VMAs remains unconfirmed, but the ceremony is already shaping up to be an important event for the singer. With nine nominations, a new honour and the premiere of “Patient Zero,” she has several major moments lined up for the night.